About the High School Huddle

Welcome to the Citizen-Times' constantly-updated blog for Western North Carolina high school sports. Features include breaking news, scores and stats, college recruiting updates and live blogs from some of the marquee games in WNC. Readers are encouraged to comment on posts, but personal attacks on current athletes, coaches and their families will not be tolerated and are subject to edit or removal at the moderator's discretion.

Justin Hughes needs your help through online voting to win a statewide football award for the second straight week.

Hughes was named the NCPreps.com 1-A Player of the Week for his performance in the Mountaineers’ Aug. 19 win over Avery County.

Now he’s up for this N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week:

CANTON, NC – The North Carolina Spit Tobacco Education Program (N.C. STEP) is honored to announce this week’s nominees for the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Stars of the Week. The campaign honors the best high school football players in the state who have pledged not to use spit tobacco or any tobacco products – on or off the field! Each nominee has signed the N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star pledge not to use spit tobacco.

N.C. STEP “No Spit” All-Star of the Week – Nominees

Chandler Chase – Hopewell

Chase completed 11-of-15 passes for 189 yards with three touchdowns while rushing for 69 yards on 15 carries in a 41-13 win over Providence.

David Herlocker – Charlotte Catholic

Herlocker amassed 321 all-purpose yards with three touchdowns in a 46-28 win over South Mecklenburg. In a 42-0 win over Providence, Herlocker rushed for 80 yards.

Ken McDowell – Gray’s Creek

McDowell opened the season with a game-high 120 yards on 17 carries with a seven-yard touchdown catch in Gray’s Creek’s 35-0 win over St. Paul’s. In a 42-13 win over Pine Forest, McDowell rushed for 95 yards with a touchdown and caught a 47-yard touchdown pass in the win.

Seth Hall – Wake Forest-Rolesville

Hall rushed for 157 yards with a touchdown in a 38-6 win over Jordan.

Justin Hughes – Mitchell

Hughes had 365 yards of total offense and scored five touchdowns in a 48-6 win over Avery. Hughes rushed for 281 yards with four touchdowns and threw an 84-yard touchdown pass in the victory. In a 38-2 win over Cherokee, Hughes rushed for 131 yards with three touchdowns and threw a 25-yard scoring strike

Jalen Pittman – Orange

Pittman carried the ball 11 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns in Orange’s 42-7 win over Person.

Fans can vote for the weekly winner online at www.TheSportsFlash.com. Voting ends at 9:00 P.M. EDT on Thursday. The winner will be announced on Friday.